Mike Compton's Gilchrists

**Don Grieser** · Jul-01-2012, 8:03pm

After hearing Mike Compton's Gilchrist Model 5 and Model 4 up close and personal the last few days, I don't believe I've heard any better ff hole or oval hole instruments ever. Those two are as good as it gets. And he certainly deserves them and knows how to make them speak.

**Rob Fowler** · Jul-01-2012, 8:34pm

Nice, Don! Did you guys eat some taters, also? Yukon Golds? Red Creamers? You should post those photos of the Aussie mandolin tasting here, also. Those were pretty mouthwatering pics! Looks like you guys were having some good times!

**mtucker** · Jul-01-2012, 9:02pm

Originally Posted by Don Grieser

After hearing Mike Compton's Gilchrist Model 5 and Model 4 up close and personal the last few days, I don't believe I've heard any better ff hole or oval hole instruments ever. Those two are as good as it gets. And he certainly deserves them and knows how to make them speak.

but....but...what about the Duff 'dola and F5?

**Don Grieser** · Jul-01-2012, 9:20pm

The Duff dola was really great; the Duff F5 wasn't on his trip west. But there's nothing that comes close to his Gilchrist 5 that I've had my hands on. That mandolin is a living breathing monster. And the 4 is just as good.

BTW, he'll be in EDIT San Diego (not LA) the 3rd of July, and in California the next 2 weeks. Check his schedule at www.mikecompton.net

**mtucker** · Jul-01-2012, 9:25pm

Originally Posted by Don Grieser

BTW, he'll be in LA the 3rd of July, and in California the next 2 weeks. Check his schedule at www.mikecompton.net

will check that out ...that's a very happy picture of you two, it wouldn't have anything to do with that open bottle of red in the background, would it? j/k! ...many thanks for sharing, Don.

Just checked, San Diego 7/3 and Norcal after that. I was thinking maybe McCabes in Santa Monica... SD is quite a ways from LA...

**sgarrity** · Jul-01-2012, 10:20pm

July 17th he's playing in Encino and July 18th he'll be doing a house concert in Santa Barbara. I'll be at both.

**Mike Bunting** · Jul-01-2012, 10:24pm

A couple of years ago I had a face to face (or knee to knee) lesson from Mike in Owensboro and I still swear that his Gil is the strongest most powerful mandolin that I've ever heard.

Shaun, you would be a bigger fool than me if you missed that opportunity!

**Don Grieser** · Jul-01-2012, 10:43pm

Mike, that's my impression of MC's Gilchrist too. And there's a whole palette of tone colors in it too.

Good for you, Shaun! I've seen MC a lot of times, and his solo show is something you want to see over and over. Powerful playing and singing.

Rob, we did have some organic red baby taters. Tasty!

**evanreilly** · Jul-01-2012, 10:55pm

And is that a KM-900 you are sporting?

**Don Grieser** · Jul-01-2012, 11:01pm

Nope, that's a Duff A5. It was an all Aussie mando gathering at my house. 4 Gils/2 Duffs

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**mtucker** · Jul-01-2012, 11:45pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

July 17th he's playing in Encino and July 18th he'll be doing a house concert in Santa Barbara. I'll be at both.

i didn't scan down far enough. Where in Encino?

**pjlama** · Jul-01-2012, 11:58pm

I played Mike's Gil for a a while yesterday morning and enjoyed it very much. It's similar to the better Gil's I've played, it's close to Don's and 670, it's just been whipped by a special player and heck of a nice guy for 10 years. His F4 is pretty outrageous too, tuned ADAd it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. On Friday night he was closing out the show and asking for a request, me being the giant mando nerd I am asked for Get UP John and got it. I have video of the whole tune, holy smokes, I need to post it for you guys. My weekend went very nicely thanks to Mr. Compton and his PAC rim toys

**Mike Bunting** · Jul-02-2012, 12:55am

Please post it!

**Dave Hanson** · Jul-02-2012, 1:13am

Mind you, Mike sounded pretty good when he was still playing that old Gibson A junior.

Dave H

**Rob Fowler** · Jul-02-2012, 1:53am

Originally Posted by Don Grieser

Rob, we did have some organic red baby taters. Tasty!

Good, Don. Good!

Man, I sure wish he would come up to Northwestern Cali and not just stop as far north as the California Coast Music Camp. Oh, well....

**pjlama** · Jul-02-2012, 2:14am

Originally Posted by Mike Bunting

Please post it!

I'll pull it together tomorrow for sure, I just have a lot going on as usual.

**almeriastrings** · Jul-02-2012, 2:21am

Not to put you under any pressure.....

but we want to see that, like, yesterday!

**Marty Henrickson** · Jul-02-2012, 9:36am

+1 for "POST IT"! :D

**Don Grieser** · Jul-02-2012, 10:32am

Originally Posted by pjlama

I played Mike's Gil for a a while yesterday morning and enjoyed it very much. It's similar to the better Gil's I've played, it's close to Don's and 670, it's just been whipped by a special player and heck of a nice guy for 10 years.

The first note/chord I played on Mike's 5 just stunned me. Way beyond mine. Mike said I was treating mine too nice, and that's about to change.

**pjlama** · Jul-02-2012, 11:21am

**pjlama** · Jul-02-2012, 11:23am

This was shot with my iPhone so not the greatest but you get the idea. After the song he handed me his mandolin and told me to tune it

It was worth the trouble. I have some other tunes, I'll upload them when I have time.

**mandomurph** · Jul-02-2012, 11:38am

AWESOME!!!!!!!

Mike handed me his Gil once after a concert and I was so shocked and stunned I couldn't think of a single tune worthy of playing so I just held it for a about a minute and gave right back to him. It had a great feel to it. Hope I get another chance some day.

**CES** · Jul-02-2012, 12:47pm

And people say mandolin isn't enough to carry a solo show by itself...I could listen to that all day long!! Just awesome!

Thanks for posting the vid!

**pjlama** · Jul-02-2012, 3:51pm

I really enjoyed his singing too. He alternates instrumental tunes with vocal ones so as a solo performance it rolls along nicely.

**Don Grieser** · Jul-02-2012, 3:55pm

Mike invited Jon Pickens and me to join him at the start of the show out here. We got to run through it once during soundcheck. I think you can hear the difference in the mandolins (and the players).